A Decade of Impact – Lisa marks 10 years at OzChild
To mark 10 years at OzChild, Dr Lisa J. Griffiths shares the highlights from her journey so far as Chief Executive Officer. In 2024, Lisa Griffiths celebrates a decade as…
How OzChild’s MST Program is Addressing Youth Crime in Victoria
As Victoria continues to address concerns about youth justice, programs like OzChild’s Multisystemic Therapy (MST) are proving to be crucial in providing long-term, sustainable solutions that prevent reoffending and help young people build brighter futures.
The program addresses environmental systems that impact chronic and repeat juvenile offenders – their homes and families, schools and teachers, neighbourhood’s and friends. By focusing on family involvement, improving mental health, reducing substance abuse, fostering positive peer relationships, and increasing engagement in education and employment, MST is effectively diverting young people away from the youth justice system.
In 2023-24 OzChild’s Victorian MST team received 42 new referrals to the program, with 10 carried over from the previous period. Of these participants:
- 86.36% showed improvement in behaviour and mental health by the end of treatment
- 89.47% reduced existing use of substance issues or prevented the development of substance issues
- 84.21% had improved changes in their peer associations (increased new/prior prosocial peer associations or spending less time with problem peers)
- 84.21% were enrolled in a learning program, with attendance improving for 78.95% of youth by program closure
- 78.94% had no further arrests a month following program closure, with 36.84% having no further offences at any time during treatment.
Importantly, 100% of families reported improved family functioning, with all young people remaining in the care of their families following the program, rather than being placed in kinship, foster or residential care.
This evidence-based, intensive family and community-based treatment program is breaking the cycle of disadvantage many juvenile offenders experience, and changing the life trajectory of young people, their families and communities.
To learn more about OzChild’s MST Program, visit https://www.ozchild.org.au/service/multisystemic-therapy-mst/
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Prevention & Strengthening
How OzChild’s MST Program is Addressing Youth Crime in Victoria
As Victoria continues to address concerns about youth justice, programs like OzChild’s Multisystemic Therapy (MST) are proving to be crucial in providing long-term, sustainable solutions that prevent reoffending and help…
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Acknowledgement of Country
OzChild acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live and work. We acknowledge their cultures are living ones, which relate to their ongoing connection to all things living and non-living on land, sea and sky.
We pay our respect to Elders past and present.
May the children of today lead us to a brighter tomorrow.
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